Rollin alger baldwin



N0. 610,0l6. Patented Aug. 30, I898. R. A. BALDWIN.

ELECTR'KQ SWITCH.

(Application filad; Mar. 25, 1897.) (No Model.)

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IINrTED STATES PATENT EEioE,

ROLLlN ALGER BALDWIN, OF SOUTIINORWALK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO I'IEAVLON ROWLAND, OF SAME PLACE.

, ELECTRIC SWITCH,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 610,016, dated August30, 1898.

. Applicationfile d March 25, 1897. l

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoLLIN ALGER BALD- WIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at South Norwalk, in'the county of Fairfield and Stateof Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription. r

This invention is an electrically-operated the tracks of electricrailways.

In carrying out my invention an electromagnet is located in a box in theroadway at some convenient point adjacent to the switchtongue andcurrent to actuate the magnet is taken from the return-circuit of therailway, which ordinarily is the rail. In order to do this, I insulate ashort section of the rails ahead of the switch, and when the switch isto be turned the return-current from the moving vehicle is passed intothe insulated section of rails, thence to the magnet, and finally to thereturn-circuit again. If the switch is not to be turned, the car passesover the insulated section of rails by its momentum, the current beingcut off to prevent the energizing of the magnet. Several forms of thiskind of switch have been invented heretofore, several of which have beenpatented by me.

The invention herein relates to the details of construction of thedevices whereby the armature of the magnet transmits its motion to theswitch point or tongue.

My invention will be described in detail,-

with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-= Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved mechanism, shown removed from its box andwith parts broken away. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same, and Fig. 3isa diagram of the circuits.

Referring to the drawings by letter, a represents an clectromagnet ofthe horseshoe type, secured in a frame b by means of bolts 12, passingthrough its back yoke. It is mounted in an upright position with the twopoles facing downward in a horizontal plane. 0 is a soft-iron barconstituting the armature of the magnet and normally resting upon aSerial No. 629,213. [No man.)

I cross-piece b? of the frame. Its extremities I are perforated ornotched to fit, respectively,

over two brass rods 6 which act as guides for the armature. Ahole isformed through .the center of the armature, through which passes the endof an upright brass thrust-rod 1 d. Cross-pieces or lugs d are fixedinto the thrust-rod above and below the armature to cause the rod topartake of the movements railway-switch, theobject being to provide anautomatic device for actuating the switches in of the armature, while atthe same time permitting the rod to swing laterally in the same planewith the armature. The thrustrod passes vertically upward between thetwo magnet-spools and through an opening in the back yoke and isprovided on its upper end with a wedge-shaped head (1 c is areciprocating bar placed loosely in guides formed on the frame I). Thisbar extends out at one side, as shown, and connects with the switchpointfin the railway-track. The bar is provided with an opening 8, in whichthe wedge-shaped head on the thrust.- rod stands, and the lateral sidesof this opening are inclined to correspond, respectively, with theinclined sides of the head d On top of the frame I) is fixed a plate g,having a wedge-shaped lugg pointing toward the wedge-shaped head d ofthe thrust-rod, and whose sides stand at the same angle to each other asdo those of the head d This lug g is formed by two cavities. g in theplate g, into either of which cavities the head d is adapted to bethrust, as will be hereinafter explained. Two springs it" connect,respectively, to the opposite sides of the'thrust-rod d and to bar 6 bymeans of cords i passing over pulleys i The circuits areas shown in Fig.3, wherein it will be seen that a wire 1 extends from the insulatedsection of rails 2 to the magnet, thence by wire 3 to the main line ofrails again.

The operation is as follows: The normal position of the thrust-rod isagainst one or the other of the sides of the opening 6 in the re=ciprocating bar and with its point immediately below and slightly to oneside of the point of lug g, one of its normal positions being shown inFig. 1'. If upon the approach of a car it is desired to throw theswitch, the motorman leaves the current on while he travels over theinsulated section of rails.

The return-current from the motor then leads through and energizes themagnet, causing it to lift its armature c, the motion of which iscommunicated to the thrust-rod 01. As the thrust-rod rises one side ofits wedge-shaped head comes in contact with one side of the lug g and itis forced in a lateral direction. The other side of the wed ge-shapedhead meanwhile resting against the side of the opening e in thereciprocating bar forces said bar over and throws the switch -point.This movement of the reciprocating bar relaxes one of the springs to" onthat side toward which the motion is made and puts the other springunder tension. As soon as the car passes off from the insulated sectionof rails the magnet is denergized, and the armature in falling carriesthe wedge-shaped head of the thrust-rod downward, while the spring,which was previously put under tension,

- swings it laterally until it finally comes to rest against theopposite side of the opening e in the reciprocating bar. The next timecurrent is passed through the magnet the wedge-shaped head of the rodpasses up on the opposite side of lug g and moves the reciprocating barin the opposite direction. If the switch is not to be thrown upon theapproach of a car, the motorman shuts off the current and permits thecar to roll over the insulated section of rails by its momentum.

It will be understood that the lug g may be a projection from the plateg instead of being formed within it, as shown. It will also beunderstood that the thrust-rod 01 may have two cams upon it, the secondone being directly behind or below the head 61 and the first one actingupon the lug g, while the second acts upon the reciprocating bar 0. Thefunction of the fixed lug g is merely that of a guide and purchase forthe rod (1, and in order to insure the least friction between thesesliding surfaces any of the usual appliances, such asantifriction-rollers, may be inserted therein.

Having thus described my invention, I c1aim- I. In an electricallyoperated railwayswitch, the combination of an electromagnet and itsarmature, a rod moved by said armature, a wedge-shaped cam against thefaces of which said rod is driven by the magnet to deflect the rod inone direction or the other, means for determining which of saidcam-faces the rod shall be driven against, and a switchtongue connectedwith the rod and partaking of its deflected movements.

2. In an electrically operated railwayswitch, the combination of anelectromagnet and its armature, a rod attached to and moving with thearmature, a guide adapted to defleet the rod when it is moved by thearmature and a switch-moving bar under the control of the guidedmovement of the rod, substantially as described.

3. In an electrically operated railwayswitch, the combination of anelectromagnet and its armature, a thrust-rod carried by the armature, areciprocating bar connected with the switch-point, the thrust-rod andbar being provided with corresponding cam -surfaces and a fixed guidedirecting the movement of the thrust-rod and so controlling the movementof the reciprocating bar, substantially as described.

4:. In an electrically operated railwayswitch, the combination of anelectromagnet and its armature, a thrust-rod carried by the armature andhaving a wedge-shaped cam at its extremity, a reciprocating barconnected with the switchpoint, the thrust-rod and bar being providedwith corresponding cam-surfaces and a wedge-shaped fixed cam againstwhich the cam on the thrust-rod is adapted to strike to deflect thelatter and cause it to act on the reciprocating bar, as set forth.

5. In an electrically operated railwayswitch, the combination of anelectromagnet and its armature, a rod pivoted to the armature andcarrying a wedge-shaped cam, two opposing springs connected respectivelyto the opposite sides of the rod, a fixed wedgeshaped cam pointingtoward the cam on the rod, and a reciprocating bar connected with theswitch-point and adapted to be engaged by the rod, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ROLLIN ALGER BALDWIN,

\Vitnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, HENRY BAILEY.

